According to the changelog posted for the latest update to Google Wallet, the service now supports automatic transfers for when money is received. Do note, while the app states the feature is inside, it is reported that it won’t go live until next week. As an example for how this could be useful, if your friend […]

According to the changelog posted for the latest update to Google Wallet, the service now supports automatic transfers for when money is received. Do note, while the app states the feature is inside, it is reported that it won’t go live until next week.

As an example for how this could be useful, if your friend sends you $20 to pay for half of the dinner you just split, that money will no longer sit inside of your Wallet account until you take action on it. With the update, that money will automatically be sent to either your bank account or debit card, depending on which option you prefer.

In addition to automatic transfers, Google states that there are numerous bug fixes and visual improvements inside of the app.

Monday’s report of the Google Wallet Card reaching end-of-life status is now confirmed. Moments ago, Google sent out emails to Google Wallet Card owners, notifying them of the June 30 stoppage, which will result in their physical Wallet Card no longer working. Google notes that the Google Wallet Card will work up until June 30, […]

Google notes that the Google Wallet Card will work up until June 30, but that users won’t be able to load any new money on it after May 1. If another user sends you money after May 1, you’ll still see that cash, though.

If you loved your Google Wallet Card and need a new option, Google has teamed up with American Express Serve and Simple to offer customers who switch a special bonus. Wallet Card owners who switch to Serve will get a $20 gift after a third direct deposit of $500 or more. Simple seems to just be handing you $20 for signing up. More info on the bonuses can be found here.

The end is near, Google Wallet Card owners. According to code buried in the latest version of the Google Wallet app, Google plans to end support for the physical Google Wallet Card on June 30. That’s a bit unfortunate for the six of you still using it, but I can’t imagine the card was much […]

The end is near, Google Wallet Card owners. According to code buried in the latest version of the Google Wallet app, Google plans to end support for the physical Google Wallet Card on June 30. That’s a bit unfortunate for the six of you still using it, but I can’t imagine the card was much of a success and probably isn’t worth the hassle for Google.

Not familiar with the physical Wallet card? It was introduced back in November 2013 as a way for you to pay for things using your Google Wallet balance. It wasn’t like Coin or any of the other 1-card-to-rule-them-all credit card types, but more like a PayPal card that paid with whatever cash you had pushed into your Google Wallet account.

At one time, it was great for pushing all of your VISA gift cards to, because it let you clean out those $1.16 balances and put them to card that was much easier to use. I could see it also being of use for families who want to give kids spending money without access to a full-blown debit or credit card. In the end, though, it never did seem to gain much traction.

As for its supposed end, here is a portion of what was found in the latest Wallet app:

“As of June 30, Google Wallet will no longer support the Wallet Card. You’ll still be able to use Google Wallet to send and receive money and we’re working to make those features better than ever. If you have money in your Wallet Balance, you can keep it in Wallet or cash out anytime.”

There are also notes that mention users being able to add money until May 1 or cashing out at any time. But again, come June 30, the card will stop working.

Google Wallet, the former Google payment app that is now some sort of hybrid friend-to-friend payment service, added a new feature today that should make sending money to others easier than ever. Through an update to the app that should arrive over the “next few days,” you will be able to send money to anyone […]

Google Wallet, the former Google payment app that is now some sort of hybrid friend-to-friend payment service, added a new feature today that should make sending money to others easier than ever. Through an update to the app that should arrive over the “next few days,” you will be able to send money to anyone in your contact list, as long as they have a phone number. That’s right, you don’t even need to have an email for them.

How does that work? When you send someone money through Google Wallet via phone number, Google will send them a text message with a secure link. By opening that secure link, they can quickly enter their debit card info to claim the money, which should then arrive “within minutes.”

Just a quick heads-up, but with Android Pay, things have changed a bit on a security level when compared to Google Wallet. With Android Pay, Google is now requiring that you have a secure lock screen setup in order to use the mobile payment service. While this is not a dealbreaker or a massive inconvenience […]

Just a quick heads-up, but with Android Pay, things have changed a bit on a security level when compared to Google Wallet. With Android Pay, Google is now requiring that you have a secure lock screen setup in order to use the mobile payment service.

While this is not a dealbreaker or a massive inconvenience for the most part (because security is a good thing), it is something to be aware of. If you are the type to go with a swipe unlock instead of a PIN, password, or pattern, this will be a change that you will have to get used to. For those with a fingerprint sensor enabled as your secure lock option, we think you are in the clear, though the pop-up message you are seeing at the top of this post doesn’t mention that as an option. For those without a fingerprint sensor in their phone (like the Moto X Pure Edition), you are stuck with the PIN, password, or pattern options.

Edit: If you are like me, and aren’t exactly a fan of PIN, pattern, or password locks, consider setting the auto-lock timer to 30 minutes or so and also turn off the button to auto-lock with power button press. (Also, I’m looking into how this all works with Smart Lock or trusted devices.)

Edit 2: Yep, Smart Lock or trusted devices works just fine.

As you can see in the image above, Google is also taking this requirement seriously, saying that they will wipe your Android Pay account of all cards if you try and sign-in but don’t setup a secure lock screen. Well, then.

We’ll have more on Android Pay shortly. If you want to download Android Pay, you can do so here.

Google announced moments ago that the rollout of Android Pay on Android begins today. We thought today might be the day, after seeing the new Google Wallet app last night, but yep, it’s now official. Like the old Google Wallet, Android Pay (which will replace your Google Wallet app) works with any NFC-enabled Android device running […]

Google announced moments ago that the rollout of Android Pay on Android begins today. We thought today might be the day, after seeing the new Google Wallet app last night, but yep, it’s now official.

Like the old Google Wallet, Android Pay (which will replace your Google Wallet app) works with any NFC-enabled Android device running Android 4.4+. Sorry, OnePlus 2 owners. Android Pay supports credit and debit cards from American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa. Citi and Wells Fargo will be available “in the next few days,” while Capitol One is “coming soon.”

At launch, companies like American Eagle, Macy’s, Pepsi, Subway, Staples, Whole Foods, and Bloomingdales are all outfitted with NFC-ready terminals. Well, they have been for some time, but now you are paying with Android Pay instead of Google Wallet.

The update starts rolling out today to Google Wallet users, so be on the lookout for an update.

Update: The .apk file has been added below for those who want to sideload.

So Google just released a new Google Wallet app through Google Play, except there is something odd going on here. This isn’t an update to your current Google Wallet app. Instead, it’s a brand new app with a brand new UI. Does that mean an update to the old Google Wallet app that will turn […]

So Google just released a new Google Wallet app through Google Play, except there is something odd going on here. This isn’t an update to your current Google Wallet app. Instead, it’s a brand new app with a brand new UI. Does that mean an update to the old Google Wallet app that will turn it into Android Pay is incoming? Maybe.

You can install it at the link below.

Update: OK, so here is the deal from what we can tell. This is the new Google Wallet app that will be used to either send money with or for use with the Wallet Card (Remember that thing?). Android Pay, as described at this FAQ page that just popped up in the old Google Wallet, is just the secure way to pay in stores, at terminals, etc. like you used to do with Google Wallet. Android Pay will take over the old Google Wallet app through a soon-to-be-released update.

Announced by Rite Aid this morning, the pharmacy chain will now accept Google Wallet and Apple Pay mobile payments nationwide beginning this upcoming Saturday, August 15. For quite some time, Rite Aid did not accept Google Wallet and Apple Pay, as it breached a reported exclusivity deal it has through CurrentC, the mobile payments solution sponsored […]

Announced by Rite Aid this morning, the pharmacy chain will now accept Google Wallet and Apple Pay mobile payments nationwide beginning this upcoming Saturday, August 15.

For quite some time, Rite Aid did not accept Google Wallet and Apple Pay, as it breached a reported exclusivity deal it has through CurrentC, the mobile payments solution sponsored by a consortium of retailers. These deals are expiring, meaning we could see this same move at other retailers in the near future.

Ken Martindale, CEO of Rite Aid stores and president of Rite Aid Corporation states, “By accepting mobile payments, we’re able to offer Rite Aid customers an easy and convenient checkout process, which we know is important to them. Investing in mobile technologies is just one piece of Rite Aid’s evolving digital strategy and we will continue to explore, test and implement innovative technologies that will help us to better serve our valued customers.”

Rite Aid, in the statement, declared the forthcoming Android Pay service will also be accepted.

This morning, the Google Wallet team announced new partners to make the ordering of your favorite foods a bit easier. Starting now, customers of Dunkin’ Donuts and the Seamless Delivery Service can link up their Google Wallet accounts directly through those business’ Android apps, allowing you to skip the hassle of entering all of your […]

This morning, the Google Wallet team announced new partners to make the ordering of your favorite foods a bit easier. Starting now, customers of Dunkin’ Donuts and the Seamless Delivery Service can link up their Google Wallet accounts directly through those business’ Android apps, allowing you to skip the hassle of entering all of your credit card information.

With Dunkin’ Donuts and Seamless now on board, the list of partners for integrated Google Wallet transactions, at least in terms of junk food, is quite respectable. We have Dunkin’ Donuts, Seamless, Papa John’s Pizza, Panda Express, Jason’s Deli, EAT24, and Dominos.

Of course, there are also plenty of online retailers which allow for purchase through Google Wallet, and that list can be found here.

Online food ordering service, ChowNow, announced this morning that it has partnered with Google Wallet to make paying for orders easier than ever. This new partnership brings a Google Wallet payment option to all of ChowNow’s restaurants clients, which should mean faster and more frequent ordering from customers. For those new to ChowNow, think of […]

Online food ordering service, ChowNow, announced this morning that it has partnered with Google Wallet to make paying for orders easier than ever. This new partnership brings a Google Wallet payment option to all of ChowNow’s restaurants clients, which should mean faster and more frequent ordering from customers.

For those new to ChowNow, think of it as a service used by independent restaurants who want to make online or mobile ordering available to customers, but don’t have the time or resources to set something up themselves. In fact, if you have placed an order with a smaller, locally owned restaurant recently, there is a chance they were using ChowNow. ChowNow claims to have thousands of restaurants using their services.

The Google Wallet integration really doesn’t have anything to do with Android directly, but again, with a “Pay With Google” button added to the service, your food orders should be completed much easier. Well, assuming you have a Google Wallet account setup with a credit card. The days of typing out credit card info are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

A Google Wallet update is rolling out today on Android that introduces two new features – maps and locations of transactions on receipt pages, and a search tool to help you find transactions. On receipt pages, if available, you will see full Google Maps imagery that when tapped, will load up that exact location. The […]

A Google Wallet update is rolling out today on Android that introduces two new features – maps and locations of transactions on receipt pages, and a search tool to help you find transactions.

On receipt pages, if available, you will see full Google Maps imagery that when tapped, will load up that exact location. The idea here is to not only keep track of your purchases, but also to identify those that look suspicious. As for the search tool, from the transactions page, you can now search for things like merchant name, item purchased, or other related keywords.

The update is live for most, so be sure to grab it.

What’s New

Search tool to easily find transactions right in the app

Updated receipts that show the merchant and location of each transaction

Softcard, the failure of a mobile payment system created by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, that tried its hardest to kill Google Wallet for years only to be acquired last month by Google in the most hilarious turn of events, is officially shutting down on March 31. According to emails being sent out to the four Softcard […]

Softcard, the failure of a mobile payment system created by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, that tried its hardest to kill Google Wallet for years only to be acquired last month by Google in the most hilarious turn of events, is officially shutting down on March 31. According to emails being sent out to the four Softcard users in existence, the Softcard app will no longer work come March 31 and accounts will then be closed shortly after.

We have also heard from sources that the Softcard app will be pulled from Google Play by March 16 and that sign-ups for the service have already stopped.

Here is a copy of the email:

With Google acquiring some of the tech behind Softcard and the service preparing for the end, now is the time to go ahead and download Google Wallet. Trust me, your mobile payment life will be much better by making the switch.

]]>http://www.droid-life.com/2015/03/04/softcard-app-will-shut-down-on-march-31-accounts-closed-with-it/feed/104Samsung Pay Can Work at 30 Million Retail Locations, Compared to the “Thousands” of Apple Payhttp://www.droid-life.com/2015/03/02/samsung-pay-can-work-at-30-million-retail-locations-compared-to-the-thousands-of-apple-pay/
http://www.droid-life.com/2015/03/02/samsung-pay-can-work-at-30-million-retail-locations-compared-to-the-thousands-of-apple-pay/#commentsMon, 02 Mar 2015 17:47:38 +0000http://www.droid-life.com/?p=162534

When Samsung acquired LoopPay in February, we assumed they would attempt to include the ground-breaking mobile payment technology into their new phones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Yesterday, they confirmed as much with the announcement of Samsung Pay, a mobile payment system that works with both NFC-equipped terminals and also the average-every-day-terminals you […]

When Samsung acquired LoopPay in February, we assumed they would attempt to include the ground-breaking mobile payment technology into their new phones, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge. Yesterday, they confirmed as much with the announcement of Samsung Pay, a mobile payment system that works with both NFC-equipped terminals and also the average-every-day-terminals you see at approximately 30 million merchants around the globe. Compare that to the “thousands” that offerings like Apple Pay and Google Wallet work with and you have the new king of mobile payment systems.

With Samsung’s acquisition of LoopPay, they picked up a technology called Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST), which is the key to this near universal acceptance. MST allows your phone to emulate a typical card swipe at credit card readers instead of hoping that a vendor has an NFC-ready terminal, which are still slowly rolling out and certainly not in most of your mom-and-pop shops. By acting similarly to a typical credit card swipe, you can see how innovative this technology truly is and why it might make mobile payments a success after years of slow adoption.

According to LoopPay, MST works like this:

MST technology generates changing magnetic fields over a very short period of time. This is accomplished by putting alternating current through an inductive loop, which can then be received by the magnetic read head of the credit card reader. The signal received from the device emulates the same magnetic field change as a mag stripe card when swiped across the same read head. LoopPay works within a 3-inch distance from the read head. The field dissipates rapidly beyond that point, and only exists during a transmission initiated by the user.

Like Apple Pay, though, paying with Samsung Pay requires the use of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge’s fingerprint sensor, coupled with the tap of the specific payment card. This not only provides a secure payment that needs your finger in order to work, but it allows Samsung to not keep any of your personal account numbers on a device.

Of course, Samsung Pay also works with NFC terminals, so if you find NFC payments to be quicker or more convenient than using MST, you can do that, assuming the terminal in front of you is equipped.

Samsung Pay will launch this summer in the US and Korea before expanding to other regions. For now, Samsung Pay will only be available on the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, though I would be shocked if it isn’t also included in the next Galaxy Note.

Early this morning, Google’s Sundar Pichai sat down for a keynote address at Mobile World Congress to talk about a handful of new ideas that his company is working on. From Google Translate to Project Loon delivering LTE to Project Titan’s little planes taking over the skies, he touched on a bunch of interesting topics […]

Early this morning, Google’s Sundar Pichai sat down for a keynote address at Mobile World Congress to talk about a handful of new ideas that his company is working on. From Google Translate to Project Loon delivering LTE to Project Titan’s little planes taking over the skies, he touched on a bunch of interesting topics in an opening chat. He then transitioned into a Q&A session where he acknowledged the fact that Google is looking to enter the wireless game as an MVNO, and that Android Pay is a new API that is coming soon.

I can’t find a replay of the event, but The Verge has a transcription of the talk.

When asked about Google being in talks to become an MVNO (sell wireless service on another carrier’s towers):

The core of Android is an ecosystem approach with partners, we’ve always tried to push the boundary of what’s next, we do that with hardware and software today (Nexus). For you to drive the next gen, you need to drive both, that’s why we do Nexus devices.

It’s a very small scale compared to the rest of the OEM industry, but it pushes the needle. I think we’re at the stage where we need to think of hardware, software, and connectivity together. Especially with things like watches. We don’t intend to be a carrier at scale, and we’re working with existing partners. You’ll see some of our ideas come to fruit in the next few months.

On if companies like Verizon and AT&T will have a problem with this:

We’ve talked with them about all this, we’re working with some partners to do what we’re doing. Carriers in the US are what powers most of our Android phones and that model works really well for us.

On if this means lowering prices:

We’re trying to show innovations, like calls automatically reconnecting if someone drops on one end. Those are the kinds of ideas we’re pursuing with this project.

We want to break down the barriers on how connectivity works.

From there, the chat moved onto Android Pay, which was rumored at the end of last week. The idea with Android Pay is to push mobile payments forward like never before. Pichai notes the obvious, that your phone is always with you, so why couldn’t you use it to do more, like pay for everything? Android Pay is a new API layer in Android and a “platform approach” that uses NFC and maybe even something else he wouldn’t mention. He did say that this won’t compete with Samsung Pay, though.

Finally, during the interview, Sundar was asked why he wasn’t wearing an Android Wear device. As it turns out, he was wearing an unreleased product and needed to remove it before coming on stage. Any guesses?

It’s official. Google has acquired “some exciting technology and intellectual property” from Softcard, the carrier-owned mobile payment system that for years, was the reason Google Wallet couldn’t exist on your Android phone. Oh how the times have changed. Thanks to this acquisition of tech, along with a new partnership through Softcard’s founders (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile), […]

It’s official. Google has acquired “some exciting technology and intellectual property” from Softcard, the carrier-owned mobile payment system that for years, was the reason Google Wallet couldn’t exist on your Android phone. Oh how the times have changed.

Thanks to this acquisition of tech, along with a new partnership through Softcard’s founders (Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile), Google Wallet will now come pre-installed on Android phones sold by these carriers later this year. Google didn’t specify if this meant all Android phones moving forward or not, but I would imagine that is the case. Google did note that phones will need to run KitKat or higher.

Within the last month, we have seen rumors suggest that Google would buy Softcard and that they would team up with carriers after all these years to give Google Wallet a new push to try and compete with Apple Pay. I’d say with this morning’s announcement, that those reports were spot on.

Excited about Google Wallet being forced upon your device or is it bloatware that you would rather not have?